The decade needs a name

The first decade of the 2000s is ending and we still do not have a name for it.

Not only that, but the name of the decade we are entering is not clear either. Many of us have experienced the 1980s and the 1990s, and look forward to seeing the '20s (i.e., the 2020s). Numerous writers have written articles over the past two decades noting the absence of a name for the first of the two decades that occur in between and they have offered suggested names. Leadership to clarify both decade names, however, is needed.

While there are many issues that require greater attention and resource allocation, the decade names issue is not trivial. Can you imagine a society willingly operating without names for either the first month of a year or the first business day of a work week? ("When was that meeting?" "It was on that day that comes before Tuesday.")

The names ultimately chosen should be consistent, as much as possible, with the rules that govern the names of the other decades. Inconsistent approaches, for example, include referring to the first decade as the two thousands (i.e., the 2000s). This is millennial terminology. That time period should be followed by the three thousands.

Similarly, referring to the first decade of the 2000s as the twenty hundreds is century terminology, and it would be followed by the twenty-one hundreds (i.e., the 2100s). Further, quirky labels and the reliance on popularity polls to choose the names should be avoided. We are not trying to name a newborn at the zoo or a sports team.

For the decades following the twenties, ending with the nineties, the names follow two main rules. First, the base of the name is the word used when reading the two-place number. For example, 50 is read as fifty. Second, the word is pluralized. Thus, the fifties results as the name for the decade of the '50s.

To get the numeric representation of the decade that comes before the twenties, one subtracts 10 from 20 to get 10, which is then read as ten. The plural of ten is tens. The decade of the '10s, thus, would be called the tens.

Subtracting 10 from 10 yields 0; read as zero. The plural of zero is zeros, and the decade of the '00s would be called the zeros. Also, a secondary and shorthand name for the first decade could be the 'Os. Not only does the number zero have a similar shape to the letter "O," reading the number zero by saying "oh" (as is commonly done) can be viewed as simply dropping the "zer" from "zero." That leaves only the last letter with an apostrophe (i.e., the 'o).

We may not be sure yet just what decade we are leaving or what one we are about to enter. However, the time is now that we finally figure it out. A nation that confronts enough uncertainty does not do itself any favors by continuing this uncertainty. While it may require a bipartisan resolution, Americans may soon reflect on the challenges of the twenty zeros, and look ahead with optimism to the twenty tens.